The innumerable hours of grueling training and meticulous strategizing climaxed in Del Val’s Hutch gymnasium on Wednesday, Feb. 18: New Jersey’s two remaining undefeated public high school wrestling teams went head-to-head for the Central Jersey Group 1 sectional finals. After a record-breaking regular season, the Del Val Terriers faced off against the Manville Mustangs and punched their ticket to the next round of the state playoffs.
Both teams entered the match with respect for the mental and physical challenge it would pose. Head wrestling coach Andy Fitz has a high regard for Manville’s program.
“Manville was a very quality opponent,” Fitz said. “You know, they were undefeated, and we were undefeated — a combined 50-0. I’m very good friends with their coach; they’re very well coached. I was glad we got through this match.”
Fitz was especially proud of the team’s performance and its ability to rise to the occasion, for he recognized that victory was not guaranteed.
“There were a ton of toss-up bouts,” Fitz said. “There were very few pins for this day and age. I was really pleased that even in some of our losses, we outpointed them in the third period….We looked good up and down the board.”
Athletic Director Lance Jacobs shared Fitz’s pride in the Terriers’ success.
“It was a great match,” Jacobs said. “It’s really good that the Terriers showed up tonight. They moved a couple of people around in the lineup, and they did a really nice job.”
Ultimately, after a hard-fought match, which ended with a final score of 40-21, Del Val exited the Hutch as both the only public school team in the state to sport a perfect record and the 2026 sectional champion.
Sophomore wrestler Jacob Maddalena attributed much of the team’s success to the efforts that happen behind the scenes to foster a sense of camaraderie.
“It’s just so cool to be a part of everything,” Maddalena said. “I mean, what we do in the back, practice, the seniors hyping us up — it’s all great.”
The team makes it a point to “hype up” every accomplishment.
“I just want them to soak up every congratulations,” Fitz said. “They’re in there [the wrestling room] right now listening to music and playing songs and taking a thousand pictures. It’s a fun moment for the program. We do not take this for granted, even though we have been on a roll for the last couple of years.”
While the team celebrates this milestone, Fitz is also looking ahead to the rest of the week.
“We’re going to enjoy this tonight, and tomorrow, I’m going to be digesting whoever we’re going to wrestle and try to look at them as much as possible,” Fitz said.
Del Val is set to host the state semifinals at 6 p.m. in the Hutch on Friday, Feb. 20, against Hanover Park High School (15-7).
“Should we get through that [the semifinal round], we’ll be at Rutgers in the state finals on Sunday, but it is one day at a time,” Fitz said.
Tickets for the Group 1 Wrestling Semifinals are available here.
